Criss Cross

A stupid, really dated, confusing pile of garbage. The plot is based around a cheesy and clichéd Hawaiian shirt wearing, pony-tail sporting Private Dick who get's caught up in a murder 'mystery' which is supposed to be set in Florida but is filmed entirely in Eilat in Isreal. Dreadful acting, ridiculous scenarios and laughable dialogue. The main character Nick Slaughter even does a voice-over throughout the film like Colt Seavers does in the 'Fall Guy' just to explain what the hell is going on. I saw this on a UK cable channel and if it weren't for the batteries in the remote going, I would have turned it off after ten minutes.

It gets 1 star for an incredible pair of breasts in the very first scene which belong to an un-credited actress. Apart from that, it's a waste of anybody's 90 minutes.

Ignore at all costs.

That's the full-title of this made-for-TV movie, released in 1996. CRISSCROSS was taken from 2 episodes of the TV Series "SWEATING BULLETS" a.k.a. "TROPICAL HEAT" (1990/1993, aired from April 1991 to October 1993). Those 2 episodes actually are #10 & #11 of the Second Season (aired on CBS "Crimetime After Primetime" at 11:30 pm on Sept. 28 & Oct. 5, 1992). It was shot in Eilat, Israel at the end of 1991 where the production of the second season was based for this CANADA-ISRAEL Co-Production Season (DLIN Film Productions & Accent Four Entertainment/Kushner-Locke - CBS). The DVD was released in Germany in 2001 under the title of "MORD UNTER HEISSER SONNE"; UK released it in 2008 (BlackHorse Entertainment/Vision Films) and USA released it in 2010 (Silver Series). CRISSCROSS is a re-editing of the 2-episodes (the only episode in 2- parts of the whole series), combined in one TV-movie well done (It was aired sometimes in 1996 on Sci-Fi (USA) as a one-shot -this is the reason why this TV-Edit was made). OK, it isn't the best script of the whole series, but it's quite fun and entertaining. "Absolute toilet" ?... Certainly NOT ! OK, if you're prude, well don't watch it, there's some partial nudity in this film (well, like in most of this TV Series episodes !). But the story is interesting enough to keep you awake to watch it 'till the end! After... It's all about a matter of own taste, you know !!

MrGoldenAge, maybe you just didn't understand the plot? Criss Cross is the movie version of two parts from the second season of Sweating Bullets (aka Tropical Heat). I think the story is good, the acting too. And boy, I love the old Jeep CJ7, Nick is driving. The chemistry between Nick, his female partner Sylvie and bar owner Spider is great but I miss his open Hawaii shirt, he usually wears in other parts of the series.

The locations were interesting and yes it was shot in Eilat / Israel. They did a good work simulating the Florida Keys. Sadly the movie doesn't contain the fantastic reggae theme song from Mollin & Mollin (sung by Jamaica's reggae legend Errol Blackwood).

I disagree with the recent comment on this show. Rob Stewart is a great actor but keeps getting a bad rap from people.

The show from Sweating Bullets aka Topical Heat was great, it's just some people don't know a good show when they see one.

It's too bad the show only had three seasons. It could have gone for longer.

There are now DVD's for all the three seasons on Amazon.com if you are interested.

Also Rob Stewart has appeared in a number of TV Seris and TV Movies as well as Motion Pictures.

He is now filming a TV Mini Series and hopefully it will appear on USA TV as well as Canada.